Matching outfits?

MyBabeMaddie wrote: Let's hear some honest opinions....

We're going to the beach in June, and I was looking into getting Madison and myself matching bikinis. LOL! I have a few so its not like we would be matching 24/7, but I thought it would be cute... Do you think thats tacky? I also have on hold right now 2 pairs of matching Nike Shox - one for her and one for me... What do you think? Is that weird? You see siblings match but I've never seen mother-daughter match.... Am I being corny/tacky/weird?

DillsMommy replied: No, I think thats ADORABLE. now a whole outfit--not so much. But what you said would be SO cute.

mommy~to~a~bunch replied: Personally....yeah, that would be tacky to me. Matching siblings are cute, but mother/daughter bikinis when your daughter is just a toddler? Ummm...no.

julesmom replied: I think it would be cute. And there is such a thing as mother/daughter outfits, btw, dressy stuff, so what's wrong with matching suits or shoes.

Take advantage of it now because before you know it, she'll want nothing that resembles anything you are wearing.

mommy~to~a~bunch replied:
I know there's mother/daughter outfits, but I just feel matching bikinis is tacky.

My2Beauties replied:
What's wrong with a toddler in a bikini??

luvbug00 replied:

i think it's adorable. Mya sported a bikini from 2-now. she and i wore the same colors as me. She loved being like her mommy. Still does. Except my body no longer supports a bikini

Danalana replied: I think it would be adorable!

Mommy2BAK replied: I think that sounds sooo cute!!! I almost bought Larry and Ayden matching shox, but since Ayden is only 6 months old I decided against spending $60 on his shoes


I think it's cute when cubby little girls wear bikini's so I don't see whats wrong with that!

A&A'smommy replied: I dunno a matching bikini sounds kinda weird to me

DillsMommy replied:
I was wondering the same thing. I think it's cute. I wore one as a toddler and I turned out just fine....

mommy~to~a~bunch replied:
I won't allow my little girls to wear bikinis. They are for grown-ups. I don't care if you let your girls wear them, mine won't. It's a personal preference is all.

Mommy2BAK replied:
Thats your opinion and you are completely entitled to it, but they make them in sizes for little girls too, so I wouldn't go as far to say they are for grown - ups exclusively.

mommy~to~a~bunch replied:
That's because the clothing manufacturers keeep pushing grow-up styled clothes on younger & younger kids, and people keep buying them thinking it's cute. Society is sexualizing our kids earlier & earlier with crappy TV shows, and then kids are bombarded with commericals in between.

MyBabeMaddie - if you wore a thong - would your daughter wear one too?

coasterqueen replied: You wanted my honest opinion so here it is.

I'm not a big fan of it, personally, but I don't really care if others do it. As far as bikini's I'm completely against them for little girls, MY LITTLE GIRLS, for many reasons as I'm trying to bring them up in a more conservative fashion so hopefully when they get to high school and they want to wear less conservative clothes it won't go too far. If they are already wearing less conservative clothes "like" now then how worse can they get when they are teens....I don't want to know.

So that's my opinion in a nutshell, albeit it crazy to most, but it works for our family.

Mommy2BAK replied: fyi~ its one thing to state your opinion and leave it for what its worth, but it's another to push your beliefs on others and try to make others feel WRONG for what they are doing. If we all just respect each other's opinions, there would probably be less arguments on this message board.

Kaitlin'smom replied: I have always wanted to do matching dresses but never have. Bikins for us no, even if I did have the body for it, its a bit weird for me, same with overpriced shoes, I wont spend alot on shoes right now mabye when her foot stops growing I would invest in a pair but not while they are still growing.

Calimama replied: I wouldn't put Miabella in a matching bikini as me. I don't have a problem with bikini's on toddlers but I wouldn't wear the same one as my almost 2 year old.

I DO however think it'll be cute, just not my style.

Calimama replied:
I agree with you, as usual.

luvbug00 replied: I find this hilarious. it's a piece of clothing. I don't care how liberal or conservitive you are no matter how many or few clothes your put on your children they will behave how you raise them.

Neglected children of any income, family size or status are going to venture out into the sexual world for attention that they don't get.
Children who are loved and nurtured will not stray from the good morals if we raise them right. Bikini or not.

I have no issue with mya wearing what she feels expresses herself.

She is only not allowed to have or wear anything with bratz because the morals of that brand are not good for her self esteem. ( they are all boy crazy and looks obsessed).

She can wear a two piece bikini, a belly shirt and low rise jeans for all i care. She dyes her hair and pierced her ears.
But she has morals and has respect for herself and others. She is kind, unselfish and becomming more and more religous.

Clothes may reflect a sterotype but it's our job as parents to make sure our children show the strenth of their convictions threw their actions not their outter apperence.

DillsMommy replied:
I agree 100%

coasterqueen replied:
And that may be true, but showing your children that you don't need to show a lot of skin, whether it be a bikini, short skirts, etc, is MY way of parenting my child. It's a more conservative approach, my approach, whether you find it hilarious or not. I was only stating my approach and my opinions as it was asked. Your children are going to behave like you teach them, you are correct, but for my children I think they will see that being a bit conservative teaches them something too

mckayleesmom replied: Everyone has their own ways to raise their child. Somebody asked Mollie a question and she answered it......Let it die. She has her reasons...

I for one don't buy bratz dolls for Mckaylee....but I don't care if others do...Its just not my thing.

coasterqueen replied:
What I've been trying to say all along!!!!

BTW, I refuse Bratz too.

mckayleesmom replied:
Well..its not like she gave unsolicitated reasons....She was asked. Most of the time if you don't agree with someone and ask why they chose this or that....Your 98% more then likely..still not going to like the reason.

Calimama replied:
Me 3, DH FREAKED when he saw one in the store.

Mommy2BAK replied: off the topic but i don't condone bratz either. and back to the original topic, if you and your daughter can both wear a bikini and look good, more power to ya!

mckayleesmom replied: Back to topic here too...

I personally wouldn't, but I don't see the harm in it..They are only young once and are never going to want to dress like you again... It can be considered blackmail.... .

AlexsPajamaMama replied: I think its a super cute idea - go for it!!
Id so do that if I had a little girl, seriously!!

Our Lil' Family replied: The original question was would it be tacky for them to have matching bathing suits.....I think it'd be cute. She didn't ask if we thought her daughter should be in bikini, just if we thought it would be tacky if they matched.

luvbug00 replied:


i believe you misunderstoood my point. being conseritive with your children is a choise and YOUR choise to make. I very much respect that.

I just think that OT about a mother asking about her daughter to wear a bikini or not to match the moms is not that big of a deal. Yet it has been taken and used to make it sound like doing this is corrupting the child. I think it is funny because it is clothing. just clothing. and it can be layered on or removed and that won't change the way the child acts.

coasterqueen replied:
Maybe I did misunderstand your point. I only commented on the bikini thing because it's another reason, I personally, would find it tacky to match with my child Also, I believe early on in this thread someone asked so I replied.

mommy~to~a~bunch replied:
She asked if matching bikinis would be tacky, and I said it would. I think it would be cute to get one-piece suits that matched mom's bikini instead.

gr33n3y3z replied: I would find it way to odd to see that sorry hun
I've seen Mom and daughters outfits and I never liked those either
I never liked when siblings matched either
Sorry

skinkybaby replied: I think it would be adorable!

I go out of my way to get bikinis for my little ones just because it is SO much easier to change a diaper with a bikini and it SO much easier for little ones who still have the occasional accident to wiggle out of a bikini bottom than it is to wiggle out of a one piece. And they look freaking adorable

My2Beauties replied: I originally posed the question to Mollie and she answered it and I think her answer is fine, that is her belief. I agree with her to an extent, clothing manufacturers are oversexualizing our children at a younger age, I mean when I can buy a 5T pair of pants that have something written on the butt then something is wrong. I don't mind bikini's per se because of the reasons skinkybaby stated, they're easier, my kids don't swim at public pools much anyways, just usually at family or friend's house or they get in our big slide in the backyard, it's easier for me, but since Hanna was PT'd I always bought her bathing suits. I think bikinis are cute on babies in good taste and swimwear is swimwear unless it says something explicit on it. As far as clothes go...I have to say I agree. They make shirts for girl's Desiree's age that talk about I love my boyfriend on them or say something like "tell your boyfriend to quit calling me" um....no I don't think kids should wear stuff like that.

MyBabeMaddie replied:
I started wearing thongs in 6th grade doesn't mean i was anywhere near sexually active.. To this day I still think thongs are more comfy then granny panties - actually i prefer to go commando.... But hey if she wanted to wear one - go for it doesn't mean shes promiscuous

MyBabeMaddie replied: On the internet, there is no way to interpret people's conversation - I once heard that body language makes up 50% of a conversation IRL. So, that said it is very hard on here to know exactly what people mean. People take some things word-for- word on here and they take it way too far. By saying "matching bikinis" in my OP I should have clarified. I have not starting looking yet so who is to say I will even find one. I wouldn't mind having her ONE-PIECE match my BIKINI but like others have said bikini's are a lot less hassel (it all depends on what the stores offer).

punkeemunkee'smom replied: I think a matching swimsuit would be cute but I too am of the opinion that bikinis on little girls are tacky. Don't get me wrong-I have seen some cute ones and when the girls are tiny it is so cute with the baby bellies and all. We never did bikinis and won't until Taylor is older...I don't think it is appropriate and in this day and age I would rather not make her look older-I hate it but you do not know who is looking!

We go to the river all summer and last year we had matching wraps and flip flops-it was cute. Our suits are also usually color cordinated

Look at footsteps clothing...they have some adorable matching stuff! There is also a company called Love to know or something like that....

Anthony275 replied:
i strongly agree with you- seems like people are afraid to talk on here because somebody is going to end up fighting with them. i know i am

PrairieMom replied: I think it would be totally adorable, and, if I could pull off a bikini anymore I would totally do it.

IMO, and it may sound like a double standard, I think bikinis on toddlers are totally fine and super cute, its when they get a little older, like school aged that I think a one piece would be more appropriate.

punkeemunkee'smom replied:
I agree with that Tara! To me a 2 year old in a bikini can still be cute (although there were some out last year that were WAYYYYY too revealing) but when you get to the 6-9 year old range they creep me out. Maybe it is because I agree with the thought process that if I had the 'body' for a bikin anymore I would wear one so having my daughter in one suggests that she has the body for one..... YUCK! I don't know if that makes any sense to anyone but that is just how we do it at our house!

kit_kats_mom replied: I think matching outfits is cute but in perhaps a different way. For a luau wedding, I got a Hawaiian shirt for DH, a little toddler dress for K and a more grown up dress for me but they were all in the same print. We got tons of compliments and the pictures are halarious. I love the idea of the same fabrics and maybe similar styles but a more grown up one for mom kwim?

I'm not a fan of toddlers in 2 piece bathing suits either. However, I'd never tell someone at the pool about my choices. I just would never want to give a sicko any reason to look twice at my kids. They are already beautiful and I'd rather not have them flaunting their stuff before they even have stuff to flaunt And for convenience, Tankinis are easy. We have about 8 of those in our house for the kids.

julesmom replied: I had said I thought it was fine. I also was thinking more tankini then bikini. My dd wears tankini's.
I based what I said on the fact that you are a young, single mom.
Your dd is still little. Even in a one piece, she'll still going to have the baby belly sticking out.

My3LilMonkeys replied: At her age I think it would be cute. Once they get past 4 or 5 is when I think matching outfits start to look kind of odd whether they are mother/daughter or sisters or whatever.

mommy~to~a~bunch replied:
Cary - those matching outfits sound really great !! I think it's also a great idea for a family to wear matching shirts when going to big places where there's the chance of getting separated. It's easy to remember what they are wearing.

See, I think tankinis are great for potty learning girls. It has the coverage of a one-piece, but the ease of a two-piece. I have nothing against tankinis.

A&A'smommy replied:
ME 3 WAY WAY too adult for children

MoonMama replied:
ITA!


And I think it would be very cute!

Cece00 replied: I think mother-daughter matching would be completely tacky...whether that is a bikini, one piece, or outfit. I would not be caught dead in an outfit that matched my daughters. We have all worn the same color shirt for a picture before, but no way would I ever buy us matching outfits/swimsuits, whatever.

Hillbilly Housewife replied:
I agree here.

I look in big department stores like Walmart or Zellers... and see pants made for little girls with SWEET or CUTE or other little words like that on the butt... I'm sorry to say, but seeing a 5 year old little girl with something like that on their behind is not exactly helping in keeping pedophiles at bay.

I've seen thongs for 5 year olds. For crying out loud... What little girl needs hoochie clothing? Then moms wonder why their dear innocent little 12 year old sweetie is pregnant.

My girls won't wear a bikini either, not until they are old enough to make their own responsible decisions. it's a personal preference... but MY little girls certainly won't be prancing around in a bikini. Sure, it's "cute" and all... but I won't be doing my part in fueling the dirty old men's desires.

ETA - and fyi, I do wear thongs. I wear other hoochie clothing too.. but I'm a hoochie mama. (in other words... not implying that thongs are hoochie. They ARE comfortable, and like Sarah, I prefer commando anyways! lol)

moped replied: Now for my 2 cents worth - LOL

I think it would be totally adorable and cute and I would walk up to you and ask where I could get such items!!!!!

And the Shox - are they the brown and pink ones by any chance? I got Laila a pair in Palm Springs....OMG i can't wait til she is a size 4!!!!!!!!

So go for it - also, who cares what anyone thinks, if you like them and want them then you should get them!!!!

I think babies are too cute in bikinis. Lailas is brown and pink flowers, don't think iw ant a brown and pink bikini - maybe black and pink!

moped replied:
I totally would not be buying the SWEET or CUTIE on the bum items..........I might draw the line there!

Brias3 replied: I would think its cute! Aliyah and I don't have matching bathing suits, but we do have some matching shoes and other things....it's fun to wear together while she still isn't embarassed to be wearing the same thing as me

The Shox sound TOTALLY adorable too

jcc64 replied: As far as the matching thing, it's seems a little... dorky imo, but if that's your thing, go with it.
About bikinis on little kids- Corey has a few, I think she looks cuter in a one piece, but I don't think it's inappropriate for a kid to wear a bikini unless it's fishnet or a thong or something. I don't like the writing on the butt for ANYONE, I wish that trend would go away already. Yes, I think girls are over-sexualized in our culture, but I don't think bikinis are at the heart of the matter, tbh.
I let me dd play with Bratz dolls, heck, I play with Bratz dolls. I fail to see how they're any more offensive than Barbie dolls- probably b/c Mattel has been trying to eat into the Bratz market-share by copying them. The reason I think it's ok for girls to play with "grown-up" looking dolls is b/c it's a toy that the child is using for fantasy play. I don't wear clothes like that, I wouldn't let her wear clothes like that, I don't even OWN make-up or high heels, and I work strenuously to keep her priorities straight. Your values will endure, despite the cesspool we're all swimming in. I agree with whoever said it's just a piece of clothing. Your kids will get whatever message you want them to, until of course they're old enough to change their clothes behind your back.

MommyToAshley replied: It's probably not something I would do. But, I don't necessarily think it would be tacky either. If you like the idea, then go for it.

I think that bikinis are ok on little kids, I'd just be careful of the style. Not all bikinis look and fit the same. The little bikinis with ruffles on them are cute, but I personally wouldn't put a string bikini on a kid. And I have to agree that 2-piece suits are so much easier to deal with at any age for potty breaks. I liked the idea someone had of doing the same color/pattern but having one in a kid style and one in an adult style.

bawoodsmall replied:
I like the same color or style thing better than the same exact one. I dont do the bikini thing for Em because I do think she is to little and bikinis were made to show off your body imo.

I would like to say that everyone has the right to parent the way they want to. Just because I disagree with something you do as a parent doesnt mean I dislike you in any way. Your kids...You decide.

kimberley replied:
thank you for these profound words. i hope we can all keep this in mind

i think matching mama/baby pj's are cute but would prolly never get matching outfits or swim wear or anything worn outside the house. my mom did that to me and those are not fond memories LOL. i don't like the hoochie wear for kids either.

:.Mrs_Mommy.: replied: I wouldn't do the matching outfits/swimwear for my DDs and me. It isn't my style but that doesn't mean it doesn't look good.

I don't allow my children to wear anything that shows their bellies. The pants have to fit, shirts have to come down to the pants, shorts and skirts have to at least come past their finger tips. My little girls are beautiful and there are alot of wierdos out there. I don't want them even thinking about them.

It has been said before on here and I am in total agreement...Children are sexualized and it is very disturbing. These are our little girls, they need to be little girls until they are grown.

I do believe what you wear helps determine how you act and that is why DH and I have decided the girls are going to be more conservative in their dress. They don't even get to have bare legs under a dress if going to school/sunday school, they have to wear tights (just in case).

holley79 replied: If you can find it, wear it. It's not like you are going to do it every single day for the rest of her life. Have fun with it. The Shoks are super cute! Annika is a bikini baby. They are easier to get off and on during potty breaks. The one I bought her this year has the matching floatation vest with it.

Boo&BugsMom replied: I'm glad I don't have girls for this very reason.

As far as the modesty thing goes...I do think it's important for kids to practice it, esp. as they get older, but at Maddie's age she isn't going to know what that is so I say go for it! Tanner has no problem stripping in front of anyone, but now that he is older we are teaching him what is approrpiate and what is not. However, when he was that age he knew nothing about what modesty is (no kids do) and they don't have any kind of shame. If I had a daughter and she was older (like Tanner's age or older), then I'd personally say no bikini's, but when they are so little and haven't a clue about modesty, it's innocent and harmless cuteness.

I hardly doubt that wearing a little bikini as a toddler is going to turn her into a skank when she's older. She wont even have the memory of it. You do what you want, and don't let other's judge you in the process!!!

lisar replied: I say go for it. I think the idea is cute.

Crystalina replied: I don't understand the answers that were saying it's tacky. Do you mean for yourselves to do it? Because I know that if I saw a mother/daughter walking down the street or at the beach and they had matching bikinis, one pieces or even dresses on I would not think it's tacky. Who the heck am I to judge them? I just could not see myself thinking, "Oh how could they?". I would more then likely think that it's sweet they have such a nice bond.

When I start to worry about what other people are wearing then it's time for me to get another hobby.